Inspector over-rules council's rejection of new south Leicestershire crematorium plan

A planning inspector has overturned a council's decision to reject proposals for a crematorium.

The inspector ruled Blaby District Council was wrong to turn down crematoria company Memoria's bid to open a funeral centre and memorial garden in Foston Lane, Countesthorpe.

Officials at the council and highways engineers from Leicestershire County Council agreed the idea was acceptable, but planning committee members disregarded their advice and rejected the scheme.

Memoria challenged the decision and now planning inspector Paul Crysell has approved the plan. He also ordered the council to pay Memoria's costs in taking the case to appeal, but no sum has yet been set.

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Mr Crysell disagreed with the council's view that the development would affect the character and appearance of the area.

He said the planned building, with its nine-metre chimney, would not be a prominent feature and would, in time, be obscured by landscaping.

Some 275 people objected to the plan saying it would create unsafe traffic conditions with all the extra cars.

However, Mr Crysell said: "In the absence of convincing information to support the views made by the council, residents or other organisations, I am satisfied the scheme would not compromise highway safety."

Countesthorpe county councillor David Jennings said: "It's very frustrating. That is not the right place for a crematorium.

"That land floods for a start. They'll need boats, not hearses."

Blaby District Council leader Ernie White said the inspector's decision was "disappointing for residents because they think they have won a great victory and then someone comes along and overturns the decision".

Mr Crysell is also considering an appeal made by the Co-op against Harborough District Council's refusal of its plans for a crematorium at Great Glen, but has yet to announce his decision.

A third crematorium – within a few miles of Countesthorpe and Great Glen – is being proposed by Westerleigh Developments.

Coun White said: "There is a chance that three crematoria could get permission very close to each other

"I doubt they will all get built. The market will decide what happens."

Jamieson Hodgson, business development director of Memoria, said: "We are obviously delighted with the decision.

"We have always maintained we found the best site in the area to build a much-needed crematorium for south Leicestershire, and we are glad that the inspector's decision supported this view."

Mr Hodgson said it was hoped construction work would start within six weeks. Westerleigh's development director, Adrian Britton, said that company also welcomed the inspector's decision.

He said: "He was, of course, not ruling between rival applications and so could not say what everybody knows, which is that the location at Kilby that we have identified is far better than Memoria's site at Countesthorpe.

"Our site is much a better option and will provide the right level of service to the bereaved in this area who have waited so long for a modern, accessible crematorium.

"We have had a positive response from our consultation with residents and will now press on with our plans."

10 comments

I appreciate the decision is for each Planning Authority, Peter, but I know neighbouring Authority's can and do have the opportunity to "comment" on another's Planning Application when it is received.
Obviously when one Council, albeit on the direction of the Planning Inspectorate, sees a proposal has been given the green light another Council will take that into consideration before arriving at their decision. It alters the "merits" of another Application with the proximity of such a similar plan.
Say for arguments sake the Eco Town at Stoughton had been given the go-ahead what would be the point of entertaining a similar plan on land adjoining, say, Oadby?

The key phrase is "In the absence of convincing information to support the views made by the council, residents or other organisations", I'd guess the Inspector is making the point that the opposition case couldn't be justified by reference to existing council policies or some sort of objective evidence (a formal survey, for instance). These days it isn't enough for a committee of elected councillors or a large number of constituents to say `no'. A proper case has to be made - and there is a heavy `burden of proof' on objectors. The only answer, as far as I can see, is for councils to be much more proactive in their policymaking; to anticipate developments before they happen and ensure that robust safeguards are already in place. And that will only happen when constituents take a much more active and sustained interest in how their local area is administered.

I see that Tower Hamlets in London are having problems with there Mayor wasting money and they are having problems like we are our but ours was not voted in by the people only the Labour party , they are doing a panorama program tonight about it.

Eastonian, that is a difference of opinion as Blaby Council, cannot review an application in Harborough Council are, or Hinckley Counil area or in the City for that case. They have to make the decision based on the merits of the application - otherwise the planning inspector can overturn it (as he has done).
It is barmy, I agree, and they "could" all be approved, but if they are built that is a different matter, but land with planning permission is much more valuable than land without.

Whether it can be levelled at a Planning Authority that they have "ignored" the public just because they don't agree or have come to another decision is debatable. The fact is planners and planning committees have to decide on the merits of any application and set aside rhetoric and emotive language and things like "it'll spoil by view" etc. etc.
There is absolutely no way 3 crematoriums could or will be built within a 10 mile radius of each other and to suggest otherwise is not only barmy but typical scaremongering. This what happens when the real arguments get lost.

the actual "localism" powers delivered by central government, rather than the advertised "localism" promised by politicians.
Blaby District Council, is in special measures, as they cannot seem to get planning decisions to be made so that any party (other than developers) are happy.
The community dislike their decisions (lubbesthrope etc.), then decisions they make are over turned by the governments inspector.
What an unholy mess, yet no planning decision can be made, whilst considering another in a different council area - each and every application has to be decided on, on its own merits - so yes planning could be given for 3 sites and 3 sites "could" be built
Our planning process now ignores local residents genuine opinion and is only designed to serve the requirements or wants of a (political) Council, central government policy (irrespective of local requirement/opinion) or a developer - all of whom make decisions for their own financial gain (in one form or another)

The right to Appeal, Hamilton, has always been there that is the way the planning system works for good or bad. Just think if you put a planning application and it was refused you would have every right to appeal against that decision just as Memoria did.

It seems to me that neighbouring Harborough District Council needs to work with Blaby District Council to see this one built now that the Planning Inspector has ruled in favour. There will be no need for the other 2 sites now, after all, crematoriums are not like High Street stores are they?!!